Tag: Environment and Climate Change Committee

Edinburgh awarded Tree Cities of the World status for its leading work in urban forestry

The Tree Cities of the World programme has recognised 27 UK ‘Tree Cities’, for their dedication to protecting and cherishing their urban tree canopy. All UK nations are represented, with Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff leading the way outside of multiple towns and cities across England.

The winning cities join an international network of 210 Tree Cities across 24 countries. Tree Cities of the World is a programme co-founded in 2019 by The Arbor Day Foundation, the world’s largest non-profit dedicated to planting trees, and the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

To earn Tree Cities of the World recognition, cities must meet five core standards; have clear responsibility for tree care, set official tree management rules, update an inventory of local tree resource, allocate a dedicated tree planting budget, and hold an annual tree celebration event with the community.

Dan Lambe, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, says: “Now more than ever, trees are essential to creating healthier, more resilient cities and towns.

“This global community of leaders is driving innovation and excellence in urban forestry—with cities in the UK leading the way through bold policies, community-driven initiatives, and a deep commitment to expanding and protecting urban forests.”

Cardiff Council has renewed its status for three consecutive years, commended for their Coed Caerdydd (Cardiff Forest) project. A response to the climate emergency, this project recently saw its 100,000th tree planted since launching in 2021, all trees having been planted with the help of the community.

Doncaster’s Tree City of the World status is testament to the council’s mission to plant one million trees across the city by 2031, with just under 300,000 trees having been planted and celebrated so far.

Ipswich Borough Council are currently planting a new woodland, featuring 2,500 trees of 20 different species, remarkably in a stag beetle-shape as a nod to its stag beetle-friendly deadwood habitat features.

Sarah Culshaw, Wildlife and Education Ranger at Ipswich Borough Council says: “We are immensely proud to have been recognised as a Tree City of the World for the last three years.

“The scheme is a great way to show our residents that we are passionate about effective urban tree management and recognise the hard work of our dedicated teams. Our trees are a huge part of our town, helping to reduce the heat island effect, create lush open spaces for engagement with nature and reduce the impact of climate change.”

Environmental charity Trees for Cities leads the promotion of Tree Cities of the World in the UK, currently partnering with 12 of the celebrated cities to facilitate their tree planting efforts.

Kate Sheldon, CEO at Trees for Cities, says: “Trees for Cities is proud to lead Trees Cities of the World in the UK, recognising real value in heralding towns and cities that set high standards in urban forestry.

“Trees offer immense benefits for our health and well-being, and are one of our best nature-based solutions adapting our cities to climate change. Trees—and their champions—deserve to be celebrated!”

In early March, The Arbor Day Foundation and Trees for Cities will meet in London to discuss opportunities to strengthen the growing international network of Tree Cities. The complete list of recognised Tree Cities of the World is available on www.treecitiesoftheworld.org

Climate crisis: ‘People power is critical to reach our environmental goals’

Westminster’s Environment and Climate Change Committee has published a report which warns that the Government’s current approach to enabling behaviour change is seriously inadequate and will result in the UK failing to meet its net zero and environment targets.

The Committee identified—drawing on the Committee on Climate Change’s assessment—that one third of greenhouse gas emissions reductions up to 2035 require decisions by individuals and households to adopt low carbon technologies and choose low-carbon products and services, as well as reduce carbon-intensive consumption.

The Committee found that while the Government has introduced some policies to help people adopt new technologies, like electric cars, that focus has not been replicated in other areas.

The Committee concluded that there has been too great a reliance on as yet undeveloped technologies to get the UK to net zero and a reluctance to help people cut carbon-intensive consumption.

During the inquiry the Committee heard from 146 organisations from across the UK and further afield including businesses, local authorities, charities and think tanks as well as government ministers, academics & researchers, and young people.

Baroness Parminter, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee said: “After a summer of record temperatures, fires and hose pipe bans, it has never been more apparent that the twin crises of climate change and nature loss demand an immediate and sustained response.

“People power is critical to reach our environmental goals, but unless we are encouraged and enabled to change behaviours in how we travel, what we eat and buy and how we heat our homes, we won’t meet those targets. Polling shows the public is ready for leadership from the Government. People want to know how to play their part in tackling climate change and environmental damage. 

“The Government’s mantra of “going with the grain of consumer choice” demonstrates a reluctance to help people cut carbon-intensive consumption. It is in a unique position to guide the public in changing their behaviours, however their approach is inadequate in the face of the urgent scale of the environmental challenge.

“The Prime Minister urgently needs to set out her vision of a country where low carbon choices and behaviours can flourish.”

Key recommendations

The Committee recommends that the Government should:  

  • learn from examples of where it has enabled behaviour change, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and enable people to make the necessary shifts in the key areas of how we travel, what we eat, what we buy and how we use energy at home 
  • launch a public engagement campaign to build support for helping people to adopt new technologies and reduce carbon-intensive consumption in the key areas where behaviour change is required 
  • help the public to reduce carbon and resource-intensive consumption in diets, products, services and travel
  • use the Net Zero Forum, announced in October 2021, to address the coordination, resourcing and responsibilities between local and central government, recognising the key role of local authorities in helping enable behaviour change in local communities
  • use every lever the Government has–including regulations and fiscal incentives and disincentives–to address the barriers which prevent changing behaviours
  • place fairness at the heart of policy design and tailor behaviour change interventions to avoid placing a burden on those who can least afford it. For example, providing financing support for low-income households as part of a national drive to improve the energy efficiency of our homes.